A Swinging Good Time

Dan Catello (left) and Kristi Yazvac (right) swing dance last school year as part of Ballroom Dance Club. This year, the club is putting on a “Gatsby” dance at Kuzman’s Lounge. Photo courtesy of YSU Ballroom Dance Club.

Youngstown State University’s Ballroom Dance Club will host their “Gatsby” dance on Thursday in Kuzman’s Lounge from 7-10 p.m.

Kristi Yazvac, president of YSU Ballroom Dance Club, said that the event was the result of successful collaboration of club members.

“As a group, we wanted to do a swing dance, and we thought the ‘20s era was close enough to the Charleston and the Jitterbug so we chose it, and “The Great Gatsby” had just come out,” Yazvac said.

Emily Andriko, vice president of the ballroom dance club, said that she was eagerly anticipating the occasion.

“We also had a chance to see the movie, and we listen to music a lot, and it just seemed like it was such a popular theme recently that it would be very well received by the public,” Adriko said. “It’s going to be a fun event with good food, and we hope to see a lot of people out there enjoying themselves.”

Yazvac explained that even inexperienced dancers will enjoy the event.

“We do all sorts of formal ballroom dances so you’ll see the tango, the waltz, east and west coast swing, the hustle and the lindy hop, which is a form of the east coast swing and any kind in between. You don’t have to know the dances, and once you get comfortable enough watching, you can join in,” Yazvac said.

Andriko added that she is excited for the dance and hopes to see plenty of people in attendance at the event.

“The entire group that we live with has been talking about it all week, and we are all really excited for the dance,” Andriko said. “No one is required to dress up. We just want everyone to come down, dance and have a great time.”

Mary Smrek, education major and a member of the dance club, said that she is excited for “Gatsby” and encourages males to attend the dance.

“I’m excited because it’s not going to be like one of those high school dances where everyone is up on everyone else,” Smrek said. “It’s going to be very classy, very fun, but we need more guys to come. We never get enough guys to join.”

Though Smrek has not yet chosen an outfit for the “Gatsby” dance, she still looks forward to showing off the dance moves she learned in Ballroom Dance Club.

“When we have these dances outside of campus, we generally try to incorporate the dances we learn in the ballroom club. I haven’t figured out what I’m wearing for ‘Gatsby,’ but since it’s a ‘20s theme, people are going to be dressing in flappers’ dresses, and I’m going to be jealous,” Smrek said.

For a $5 entry fee, anyone older than 18 years old is invited to dance and dress up in ‘20s era “Gatsby”themed costumes.